Absurd remarks: Govt slams Pak President's comments on religious sites in India
The Ministry of External Affairs was responding to a statement by the Pakistan President, in which he expressed "deep concern" over alleged threats to historic Muslim religious sites in India.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday categorically rejected remarks made by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on religious sites in India, describing them as unwarranted and asserting that he has no locus standi to comment on matters internal to India.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the comments were particularly absurd given Pakistan’s own “abysmal” human rights record, which he noted continues to draw global concern and criticism.
The ministry also underscored Pakistan’s alleged long-standing pattern of systematically targeting and victimising minorities across various faiths.
“Given this reality, the President’s remarks can only be seen as a deliberate political attack driven by Pakistan’s national policies of bigotry and hatred,” Jaiswal said.
The MEA was responding to a statement by the Pakistan President, in which he expressed “deep concern” over alleged threats to historic Muslim religious sites in India. He further claimed that such actions could lead to “disintegration and perennial chaos” in India, remarks based on unverified information.
This is not the first time Pakistan has made unverified and critical remarks on matters internal to India, particularly concerning minority-related issues.
INDIA EXPOSES PAK'S 'CONCERNS'
In December 2025, the MEA dismissed Pakistan’s allegations of mistreatment of religious minorities in India, stating that Islamabad could not deflect attention from its own “horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities across faiths” by pointing fingers at New Delhi.
“Pakistan’s horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities across faiths is a well-established fact. No amount of finger-pointing will obfuscate it,” the government had said at the time.
India was responding to comments by Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, who had urged the international community to take note of alleged incidents targeting religious minorities in India, including “Christmas-related vandalism and attacks on Muslims.”
In April 2025, India also strongly rejected Pakistan’s criticism of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, asserting that the neighbouring country has no locus standi to comment on internal matters. The MEA had said Pakistan should address its own “dismal” record on minority rights instead of “preaching to others.”
"We strongly reject the motivated and baseless comments made by Pakistan on the Waqf Amendment Act enacted by the Parliament of India. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on a matter that is internal to India," Jaiswal had said on April 15 last year.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday categorically rejected remarks made by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on religious sites in India, describing them as unwarranted and asserting that he has no locus standi to comment on matters internal to India.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the comments were particularly absurd given Pakistan’s own “abysmal” human rights record, which he noted continues to draw global concern and criticism.
The ministry also underscored Pakistan’s alleged long-standing pattern of systematically targeting and victimising minorities across various faiths.
“Given this reality, the President’s remarks can only be seen as a deliberate political attack driven by Pakistan’s national policies of bigotry and hatred,” Jaiswal said.
The MEA was responding to a statement by the Pakistan President, in which he expressed “deep concern” over alleged threats to historic Muslim religious sites in India. He further claimed that such actions could lead to “disintegration and perennial chaos” in India, remarks based on unverified information.
This is not the first time Pakistan has made unverified and critical remarks on matters internal to India, particularly concerning minority-related issues.
INDIA EXPOSES PAK'S 'CONCERNS'
In December 2025, the MEA dismissed Pakistan’s allegations of mistreatment of religious minorities in India, stating that Islamabad could not deflect attention from its own “horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities across faiths” by pointing fingers at New Delhi.
“Pakistan’s horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities across faiths is a well-established fact. No amount of finger-pointing will obfuscate it,” the government had said at the time.
India was responding to comments by Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, who had urged the international community to take note of alleged incidents targeting religious minorities in India, including “Christmas-related vandalism and attacks on Muslims.”
In April 2025, India also strongly rejected Pakistan’s criticism of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, asserting that the neighbouring country has no locus standi to comment on internal matters. The MEA had said Pakistan should address its own “dismal” record on minority rights instead of “preaching to others.”
"We strongly reject the motivated and baseless comments made by Pakistan on the Waqf Amendment Act enacted by the Parliament of India. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on a matter that is internal to India," Jaiswal had said on April 15 last year.
